Steam and air control for garment finishing machines



Feb. 23, 1960 c, JACKSON 2,925,945

STEAM AND AIR CONTROL FOR GARMENT FINISHING MACHINES Filed Dec. 27, 1956 5 Hum s;

x IIIHIHI 0 INVENTOR. 0. Jackson United States Patent STEAM AND AIR CONTROL FOR GARMENT FINISHING MACHINES Nolan C. Jackson, Wichita, Kans., assignor to Wichita Precision Tool Company, Inc., Wichita, Kans., a corporation of Kansas Application December 27, 1956, Serial No. 630,918

Claims. (Cl. 22370) This invention relates to garment finishing machines in the nature of those disclosed in my US. Letters Patent Nos. 2,736,471 and 2,736,472, both dated February 28, 1956, and incorporated herein by reference as may be necessary for a full and complete disclosure and understanding of the instant invention.

It is the most important object of the present invention to provide a garment finishing machine having means for controlling the fiow of a plurality of fluids to the garment being finished in a manner to cause the fluids to be directed to the garment separately in predetermined sequence or simultaneously.

It is another important object of the instant invention to provide steam and air control means for garment finishing machines selectively adaptable for directing the steam to the garment for a predetermined period of time and thereupon causing air to be directed thereto after discontinuing the flow of steam.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a steam and air control of the aforementioned character that permits the operator, as desired, to direct the air to the garment alone in absence of steam or to cause the flow of both steam and air to the garment simultaneously for a period of time selected by the operator.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a garment finishing machine chosen for illustration of the principles of the instant invention and having steam and air control means as a part thereof, parts being broken away and in section for clearness.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in Figure 1 with the rotatable assembly entirely removed.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view partially schematic illustrating the switch control for the electrical components of the machine; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating the electrical components of the steam and air control.

Except for the components illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing, the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is substantially identical with my Patent No. 2,736,472, the latter showing automatic fluid flow control in the nature of valve means which is not shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Since reference to said patent will fully disclose the broad principles of operation of the garment finisher, it is but necessary to point out that there is included a hollow base 10 carrying a rotatable assembly 12 over which is draped and secured a permeable bag of flexible material upon which the garment to be finished is mounted.

Base 10 is subdivided by partition 14 into an upper chamber 16 and'a lower chamber 18, the former of which communicates with the assembly 12 through the open top 20 of base 10 and, therefore, with the aforementioned bag. A side air inlet 22 in the base 10 receives air from a blower 24 that is driven by a motor 26 (see also Fig. 4).

The air emanating from blower 24 traverses a steam coil 28 within the opening 22 and is, therefore, heated prior to being forced through the permeable bag and, through the garment draped thereover. Steam may also be directed to the bag and the garment upon opening of a normally closed steam control valve 30 having an electrically operable device for actuating the same, such as a solenoid 32 illustrated in Fig. 4. The flow of steam from inlet line 34 to the garment and to outlet 36 is fully disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 476,000, filed December 17, 1954, now Patent No. 2,805,009, granted September 3, 1957, and while the same forms no part of the instant invention it may be pointed out that the steam initially enters an outer container 38 upon opening of a valve 40 in line 34. From the container 38 the steam flows to coil 28 via pipe 42 and from the coil 28 to outlet line 36 past trap 44.

Valve 30 is interposed in a conduit 46 that interconnects outer container 38 with an inner container 48. From the container 48 the steam passes to the garment by way of a perforated manifold 50 communicating with the container 48 and contained within a small permeable bag 52.

In accordance with the principles of the instant invention, the valve 30 and the motor 26 are controlled by a foot pedal 54 on a shaft 56 rotatably carried by the base 10. A head 58 on the shaft 56 within the chamber 18 of base 10 alternately closes normally open master switches 60 and 62 (see Figs. 3 and 4) upon tipping of the foot pedal 54 in either direction.

In addition to the motor 26, the solenoid 32 and the switches 60 and 62, the electrical components illustrated in Fig. 4 include a manual control switch 64, a relay 66 having a normally open relay switch 68 and an electrically operable element such as a coil or solenoid 70, a timer 72 having switch means 74 including a movable contact 76 and a pair of stationary contacts 78 and 80, the contact 76 being normally closed with respect to contact 80. Such electrical components are all coupled with a suitable source of electrical energy through primary lines 82 and 84.

Motor 26 is connected in series with the lines 82 and 84 upon closing of switch 62 through lines 86 and 88.

Solenoid 32 is connected in series with lines 82 and 84 upon closing of switch 60 while contacts 76 and of switch means 74 remain closed. The circuit is traced from line 82 through line 86, closed switch 60, line 90, closed contacts 76 and 80, and line 92 to primary line 84.

Upon closing of switch 60, timer 72 is likewise energized from line 82 through line 86, closed switch 60, lines and 94 and timer 72 to line 84.

Timer 72 is of conventional construction and, therefore, the details thereof have not been illustrated. It consists of a pneumatic time-delay unit which is mechanically actuated by a magnetic contactor mechanism energized upon closing of switch 60 as just above described. Time delay is dependent upon the transfer of air through a restricted orifice and, therefore, contact 76 of switch means 74 is not actuated until a predetermined period of time has elapsed following closing of the switch 60.

When the switch 60 is initially closed therefore, energization of solenoid 32 through switch means 74, opens valve 30 permitting steam to flow from the container 38, past the open valve 30 into the container 48 and thence to the garment by way of manifold 50, bag 52 and the permeable bag (not shown) on the rotatable assembly 12.

As soon as timer 72 actuates movable contact 76 to open switch means 74 with respect to contact 80, solenoid 32 is deenergized notwithstanding the fact that switch 60 remains closed, thereby stopping the flow of steam to the gament.

Timer 72 moves the contact 76 into engagement with contact 78, thereby energizing the solenoid 70 of relay 66. The circuit may be traced from lines 82 and 86 through switch 60, line 90, closed contacts 76 and 78, line 96 and solenoid 70 to line 84.

Energization of solenoid 70 closes switch 68 to energize motor 26 from line 82, through closed switch 68, line 88, and motor 26 to line 84. i

Relay 66 remains closed until the operator opens switch 60 and during such time the air from blower 24 passes through opening 22, across heating coil 28 into chamber 16, and thence to the garment by way of outlet 20 of base 10. Upon opening of switch 60 and, therefore, deenergization of the magnetic contactor mechanism of timer 72, the movable contact 76 immediately returns to the position shown in Fig. 4 in closing relationship to contact 80, ready for the next cycle of operation.

In the event however, it is desired to simultaneously energize motor 26 and solenoid 32 upon closing of switch 60, the operator first closes the switch 64. It is seen that such closing of switch 60 energizes solenoid 32 through swtich means 74 in the same manner as above described. Relay 66 is energized upon closing of switch 60 through line 90, closed switch 64, line 96 and solenoid or coil 70, to line 84.

After a predetermined period of simultaneous flow of air and steam through the garment, timer 72 operates to deenergize solenoid 30 and the air flow continues until switch 60 is opened to deenergize coil 70.

It is apparent from the foregoing therefore, that through the steam and air control illustrated in the drawing, it is possible for the operator to switch from an operation where steam and air flow simultaneously to an operation where the steam and air flow in timed sequence as well as to an operation where steam is eliminated entirely and air alone is caused to flow through the garment, all by actuation of foot pedal 54, as well as by opening and closing of the switch 64 as may be desired.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a garment finishing machine, means for steaming a garment including a normally closed steam control valve provided with an electrically operable device for actuating the same; a first electric circuit coupled with said device and provided with a master switch for closing the same to energize the device and thereby open said valve; means for directing air to the garment including a blower provided with an electric motor for operating the same; a second electric circuit coupled with said motor; a control switch for closing said second circuit to energize said motor and operate the blower upon closing of said first circuit, whereby air and steam are directed simultaneously to the garment; and means for opening the first circuit after a predetermined period of time, and operable separately from said control switch, to thereupon close the second circuit when the control switch is open, whereby steam and air are directed in succession to the. garment.

2. The invention of claim 1, and means separate from the second circuit for energizing the motor to operate the blower independently of said valve, whereby air alone is directed to the garment.

3. In a garment finishing machine, means for steaming a garment including a normally closed steam control valve provided with an electrically operable device for actuating the same; a first electric circuit coupled with said device and provided with a master switch for closing the same to energize the device and thereby open said valve; means for directing air to the garment including a blower provided with an electric motor for operating the same; a second electric circuit coupled with said motor; circuit closing means for said second circuit; a control switch for operating said circuit closing means to energize said motor and operate the blower upon closing of said first circuit, whereby air and steam are directed simultaneously to the garment; and means for opening the first circuit after a predetermined period of time, and operable separately from said control switch, to thereupon operate said circuit closing means when the control switch is open, whereby steam and air are directed in succession to the garment.

4. In a garment finishing machine, means for steaming a garment including a normally closed steam control valve provided with an electrically operable device for actuating the same; a first electric circuit coupled with said device and provided with a master switch for closing the same to energize the device and thereby open said valve; means for directing air to the garment including a blower provided with an electric motor for operating the same; a second electric circuit coupled with said motor; circuit closing means for said second circuit provided with an electrically operable element; a third circuit coupled with said element; a control switch for closing the third circuit to energize said motor and operate the blower upon closing of said first circuit, whereby air and steam are directed simultaneously to the garment; and means for opening the first circuit after a predetermined period of time, and operable separately from said control switch, to thereupon close the third circuit when the control switch is open, whereby steam and air are directed in succession to the garment.

5. In a garment finishing machine, means for steaming a garment including a normally closed steam control valve provided with an electrically operable device for actuating the same; a first electric circuit coupled with said device and provided with a master switch for closing the same to energize the device and thereby open said valve; means for directing air to the garment including a blower provided with an electric motor for operating the same; a second electric circuit coupled with said motor; a relay for closing said second circuit provided with a normally open relay switch in the second circuit and a coil for closing the relay switch; a third circuit coupled with said coil; a control switch for closing the third circuit to energize said motor and operate the blower upon closing of said first circuit, whereby air and steam are directed simultaneously to the gannent; and means for opening the first circuit after a predetermined period of time, and operable separately from said control switch, to thereupon close the third circuit when the control switch is open, whereby steam and air are directed in succession to the garment.

6. In a garment finishing machine, means for steaming a garment including a normally closed steam control valve provided with an electrically operable device for actuating the same; a first electric circuit coupled with said device; means for directing air to the garment including a blower provided with an electric motor for operating the same; a second electric circuit coupled with said motor; an electrically operable timer provided with a timer switch normally coupling said device with the first circuit; a third electric circuit coupled with said timer; a master switch for closing the first and third circuits to energize said device and said timer respectively; a control switch for closing said second circuit to energize said motor and operate the blower upon closing of said first and third circuits, whereby air and steam are directed simultaneously to the garment, said timer being adapted to actuate the timer switch after a predetermined period of time, whereby to open the first circuit and de-energize said device; and means operable upon actuation of the timer switch to energize the second circuit when said control switch is open, whereby steam and air are directed in successtion to the garment.

7. In a garment finishing machine, means for steaming a garment including a normally closed steam control valve provided with an electrically operable device for actuating the same; a first electric circuit coupled with said device; means for directing air to the garment including a blower provided with an electric motor for operating the same; a second electric circuit coupled with said motor; an electrically operable timer provided with a timer switch; a third electric circuit coupled with said timer; a relay having a coil and a normally open relay switch for closing the second circuit when said coil is energized; a fourth electric circuit coupled with the coil; a master switch for closing the first and third circuits to energize said device and said timer respectively; and a normally open control switch for coupling the coil with a source of electrical energy when the master switch is closed, said timer switch being normally in a first position coupling said device with the master switch when the latter is closed and being movable by the timer after a predetermined period of operation of the timer to a second position closing said fourth circuit.

8. In a garment finishing machine, a source of electrical energy; means for steaming a garment including a normally closed control valve having a solenoid for actuating the same; means for directing air to the garment including a blower provided with an electric motor for operating the same; a relay having a coil and a normally open relay switch, the motor being coupled with said energy upon closing of said relay switch; an electric timer having a timer switch provided with a pair of stationary contacts and a movable contact normally engaging one of said stationary contacts; and a normally open master switch coupling the timer with said energy and also coupling the solenoid with said energy through said one stationary contact and the movable contact when the master switch is closed, said movable contact coupling the relay with said energy through the other stationary contact after energization of the timer for a predetermined period of time.

9. The invention of claim 8, and a normally open control switch for coupling the relay with said energy when both the master switch and the control switch are closed.

10. The invention of claim 9, and a second master switch for coupling the motor with said energy independently of said relay switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,326,775 Frentzel Aug. 17, 1943 2,698,705 Hitz I an. 4, 1955 2,805,009 Jackson Sept. 3, 1957 

